Gateshead Reserves bid for cup glory
Gateshead reserves take on Dunston UTS in an all Gateshead Durham Challenge Cup Final at the Hetton Centre, Eppleton CW, Hetton-le-Hole tomorrow looking to bring back silverware.
The Good Friday morning clash kicks-off at 10:45am and reserves manager Paul Bryson hopes a number of the Heed Army will make the short trip ahead of Saturday's Blue Square Bet Premier game at home to Wrexham.
"I have heard a fair few Gateshead fans are coming along and I hope that is the case as it will increase our chances of winning the Durham Challenge Cup," said Bryson.
"I took part in three County Cup finals as a player with Eppleton, Spennymoor and Tow Law but this is my first one as a manager.
"Having spent three years at Dunston Fed during my playing days and several years at Eppleton, on what is now called the Hetton Centre, it is a poignant occasion for me.
"One of my targets when we formed the reserve side at Gateshead this season was to get to the Durham Challenge Cup Final but I didn't expect us to have to do it the hard way.
"Restrictions on the number of professionals we could use in County Cup games has meant we have had to use a number of Gateshead College players and other youngsters.
"But we have coped magnificently and the way we came back from the dead to beat Sunderland RCA in the quarter-final shows the spirit there is in the side."
The reserves have rattled up an incredible 25 goals in their five Durham Challenge Cup games this season, four of the games at home.
Leading marksman Brian Wake, however, is now plying his trade in Sweden and it will be a young Gateshead second string that faces near neighbours Dunston on Good Friday.
For the first time this season there is not a professional in the back four though there is four Gateshead FC squad players in the starting line up.
Paul Farman captains the side from in goal, Josh Gillies and James Marwood provide the width and Jonny Allan the experience up front.
"What we lack in experience we make up for in youthful exuberance," added Bryson "and several of these talented youngsters have Northern League experience.
"We will go out there and enjoy ourselves, play to our maximum and hopefully do enough to win the trophy."
Dunston are 7th in the Northern League top flight and the highest ranked side Gateshead reserves have met in the Durham Challenge Cup this season.
The UTS Stadium club also includes a number of former Gateshead players in their ranks including goalkeeper Liam Connell and defender Ben Cattanach.
Gateshead Res: Farman, Gilbert, McDonald, Lay, Scott, Marwood, A.Brown, Briggs, Gillies, Wilkinson, Allan
Subs: Soulsby, Dodds, Porter (gk), Robinson
. Gateshead FC U.18s contest the Durham FA Youth Cup Final tonight (Thursday) against Newcastle Benfield at Harton & Westoe FC, South Shields, KO 7: 30pm.
